3 美文文本.doc

How Poor We Really Are我们是多么贫穷One day a wealthy family man took his son on a trip to the country so he could have his son see how poor country people were.一天，一个富有的爸爸带着儿子做了一次乡村之旅，他想让儿子明白乡下人是多么的贫穷。They stayed one day and one night in the farmhouse of a very humble farm. On the way back home at the end of the trip the father asked the son, What did you think of the trip?他们在一个农家的寒酸的农场上呆了一天一夜。在旅程结束回家的路上，爸爸问儿子：“你觉得这次旅行怎么样？”The son replied, Very nice, Dad.儿子回答：“非常好，爸爸。”The father then asked, Did you notice how poor they were?爸爸接着问：“你有没有注意到他们是多么贫穷啊？”The son replied, Yes, I guess so.儿子答道：“是的，或许是吧。”The father then added, And what did you learn?爸爸追问道：“那你都是学到了些什么？”To this question, the son thought for a moment and answered slowly, I learned that we have one dog in the house and they have four. We have a fountain in the garden and they have a stream that has no end.关于这一问题，儿子想了一会儿，慢条斯理地回答道：“我学到我们家只有一只狗，而他们却有四只。我们花园里有一个喷水池，而他们却有一条没有尽头的小河。”We have fancy lanterns in our garden, while they have the stars. Our garden goes to the edge of our yard, but for their back yard they have the entire horizon!“我们花园里有色彩夺目的灯笼，而他们却有无数闪亮的星星。我们院子的尽头就是花园，而他们的后院却有开阔的视野。”At the end of the sons reply, the rich father was speechless. His son then added: Thanks, Dad, for showing me how poor we really are.儿子说完后，这个富有的爸爸无言以对。儿子还说道：“谢谢你，爸爸，让我明白了我们是多么贫穷。”Isnt it true that all depends on the lens you use to see life?一切在于看待生活问题的方式，难道不是吗？If you have love, friends, family, health, good humor and a positive attitude toward life, youve got everything! You cant buy any of these things. You can have all the material possessions you can imagine, provisions for the future, etc., but if you are poor of spirit, you have nothing!如果你拥有了爱情、朋友、家庭、健康、幽默和积极的态度，你就拥有了一切。这些东西是金钱买不到的。你可以拥有你想象中的任何物质财富和为将来做的储备，但假若你精神贫乏，还是一无所有。The Beggar and the Miser 乞丐和吝啬鬼One day, an old beggar went to the village. He knocked at the door of a rich man to beg for food.一天，一个老乞丐来到一个熟悉的村子里。他敲上了一个富人家的门，想跟他讨点儿东西吃。This was a big house and at the side was built a granary with a big padlock.这是一座又高又大的房子，旁边有一个很大的谷仓，门上挂着一把大铁锁。The owner of the house was a miser and he was known for never helping anyone.这户人家的主人是个吝啬鬼，他从来不肯帮助别人。他的吝啬在方圆几百里内是出了名的。The beggar was aware of his reputation but still pleaded, Will you give me a bit of butter or milk?乞丐也知道他这种吝啬的狼藉名声，但还是乞求他：“您能不能给我一点黄油或牛奶？”The miser said impatiently, No! Go away at once!吝啬鬼不耐烦地说：“不行！快给我滚开！”Perhaps you can sweep out for me a bit of grain or beans, the hungry beggar continued.“或许，您还能扫出一把麦子或黄豆呢？” 饥饿的乞丐又说道 。There isnt anything in my house!“我家里什么也没有！”How about a little bit of bread? the beggar insisted. Only a mouthful of food and I will be very grateful.“那就请您给我一小块面包吧，”乞丐坚持道，“哪怕是给我一口饭吃，我都会对您感激不尽的。”Go away! I dont have bread!“滚开！我没有面包！”How about some water? I am thirsty.“那给我一口水喝，行吗，我太渴了！”I dont have water.“我没有水！”The beggar then said sadly to him, My friend, why are you here? You should go to some kind-hearted folk to beg for food because you are poorer than anybody else.然后，乞丐悲哀地对这个吝啬鬼说：“我的朋友，那你还呆在这里干什么？你应该去找一些善良的人们讨些饭吃吧，因为你比谁都要穷！”The miser in this story is really wealthy in a material sense, but he is extremely poor in a moral sense. Rich people without compassion and conscience are not welcome in the society. They are likely to maintain temporary wealth but not everlasting wealth. So at the